# Directus A backend you run (self-hosted with Docker or on Directus Cloud) on top of any SQL database: it generates REST and GraphQL APIs, an admin web app for editing data, auth and roles, file storage, automations, realtime WebSockets and a built-in MCP server. - Category: Backends and databases ยท by Monospace Inc. - Website: https://directus.com/ - Live data: no - Checked on the official pages: 2026-10-24 ## API - Official API: yes, docs https://directus.com/docs - Key needed: not stated - Price: Free tier; limits: Core plan: 3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows; Team: 10 SSO seats, 50 collections, 20 flows - Formats: json, graphql ## Price and code - Free tier: Open Innovation Grant: free self-hosted use with no feature limits for organizations under $5M annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees; 14-day trial on paid plans; paid from $89/month (https://directus.com/pricing) ## Data and license - Download: https://github.com/directus/directus - License: Monospace Sustainable Core License 1.0 (MSCL-1.0-GPL), source-available; becomes GPL-3.0 four years after each release (https://directus.com/license); covers The Directus software; any use except offering it as a competing paid product; license-key features may not be bypassed - Commercial use with conditions - Credit depends on the item - Embedding unclear - Quote (api_official): "Directus is a real-time API and no-code Data Studio for managing any SQL database. It provides REST and GraphQL APIs, granular access control, authentication, file storage, automations, realtime via WebSockets" (https://directus.com/docs/llms.txt) - Quote (free_tier): "Organizations under $5M in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees qualify for fully permissive access to Directus at no software cost. Self-hosted is completely free. Cloud hosting is $99/mo." (https://directus.com/pricing) - Quote (paid_from): "Core Core Evaluate Directus or power small, individual builds within the seat and collection limits. $89 $89 / mo / mo / mo Billed yearly, or $99 monthly" (https://directus.com/pricing) - Quote (commercial): "A Permitted Purpose is any purpose other than a Competing Use." (https://directus.com/license) - Quote (commercial_competing): "A Competing Use means making the Software available to any party (on a stand alone basis or together with your products or services) that competes with the Licensor's commercial offerings of the Software itself" (https://directus.com/license) - Quote (license_key): "You must not move, change, disable or circumvent the license key functionality of the Software" (https://directus.com/license) - Quote (attribution): "If you redistribute any copies, modifications or derivatives of the Software, then (A) you must include a copy of or a link to these Terms and Conditions and not remove any copyright notices" (https://directus.com/license) - Quote (gpl_future): "We hereby irrevocably grant you an additional license to use the Software under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPL-3.0), effective on the fourth anniversary of the date we make the Software available." (https://directus.com/license) - Quote (mcp): "**MCP requires Directus v11.12+**. For older versions, use the [Local MCP alternative](/guides/ai/mcp/local-mcp)." (https://directus.com/docs/raw/guides/ai/mcp/installation.md) - Quote (maker): "Copyright 2026 Monospace Inc." (https://directus.com/license) ## Rules for an agent - Use the JS/TS SDK `npm install @directus/sdk` (createDirectus + rest/graphql) against your instance; auth by static token, session or cookie per role; MCP at /mcp (OAuth or ?access_token=), add ?tool_mode=registry for large schemas. - Do not offer Directus itself as a competing paid service, and do not bypass license-key features - Free use under the Open Innovation Grant applies only to organizations under $5M revenue and fewer than 50 employees; others need a paid plan - Keep the license notice when redistributing modified copies ## Agent access - llms.txt: https://directus.com/docs/llms.txt - MCP: Built in: https:///mcp (Directus v11.12+) Human page: https://agentgid.com/resources/directus/ Source: AgentGid (agentgid.com). Facts are quoted from the site's own pages; check the license page before you ship.